eyebrow.
She said, “That one’s going to cost you two thousand.”
Ball four came sailing over her head and Ethan had to jump to catch it.
Mackenzie lightly threw her bat toward the dugout, gave Ethan a disgusted look, and took her base. He could hear his grandmother complaining loudly but a man had to do what a man had to do. He wasn’t letting Miss Home Run near the ball again. He smiled at the glare Mackenzie gave him when the next batter struck out and the teams switched.
When he slid into third, he said, “I was sure you were going to walk me but I guess you don’t believe in playing dirty.”
“I thought about it, but then realized there wasn’t any point. You’re not that much of a threat.”
He wiped dirt from his sweats. “I’m on third base.”
“And that’s as far as you’re getting.”
Shortstop sniggered, and Mackenzie whipped her head around to glare at Ethan.
He chuckled. “I never realized how many sexual innuendos can be made with a game of softball.”
“If I lose after this, you better find someone else to fill my position. And I hope she keeps carrot sticks in her drawer and kisses your ass.”
“That would be a novelty.”
The batter hit the ball straight to Mackenzie, who caught it midair and then tagged Ethan out before he could make it back to base.
“Jeez, Mackenzie. Good thing I’m meaner than you or I don’t think I’d be winning today.”
“You won’t be winning today. Your grandmother is counting on me.”
But he was meaner than her, and he’d had years of practice charming resistance out of men and women alike. The women were distracted, the men laughing too hard (and Mackenzie knew they were laughing about her even if she couldn’t hear what Ethan was saying), and the only person immune to him never got close enough to the ball to hit it. She got one more run in, sliding and spraying dust everywhere and getting wiped down by Ethan to a lot of whistles and catcalls– and a glare by one unhappy mother. But in the end, she wasn’t a match against him and his mouth and her team lost by two.
Ethan slung a sweaty, dusty arm around her. “You do realize this is your fault. You could have won, but you chose to leave the shorts at home and wear these instead.” He pinched her yoga pants and pulled.
“If I’d have known you were susceptible to that sort of thing, I would have worn a thong. But I was sure you were immune after all those models.”
He choked and stopped, his arm falling off her shoulders. She grinned and kept walking. His grandmother was waiting for her behind the dugout and they nodded to each other.
“I don’t blame you, girlie. I think you were the only one on that team who really wanted to win.”
Mackenzie said, “Ethan could make the pope play for Allah. I think half the people who work for him came from a competitor.”
“Did you?”
“No. I was hired right out of college.” She swung her bag up. “And if I could find anyone who paid as well, I’d switch.”
Ellen glanced toward the other dugout. “I’m sure he knows that.”
Mackenzie smiled. “That’s why I can’t find anyone who will pay as much. Ethan gets what he wants and he usually doesn’t care what it costs as long as it’s worth it.”
“He gets that from his father. . . Join us for dinner tonight.”
Mackenzie’s eyebrows shot up and she shook her head. “Thank you, but I can only take so much of him a day.”
His grandmother chuckled. “I think you could take a lot more than you’re willing to admit. But I’m asking you to join Christine and me. And before you say no again, remember that I just lost a bet because of you.”
Mackenzie shook her head again, amused. “You forget I’m immune to O’Connor ploys. You lost that bet because of your grandson. I didn’t think any O’Connor would bet against their own.”
“I didn’t bet against him. It would have done the boy good to get walloped by you. We’ll be at Melisse at seven. I’ll make the reservation for three.”
Mackenzie glanced behind her, catching the gaze of his mother. She was talking to Ethan but looking at her. Christine O’Connor didn’t look like she would enjoy sharing a meal with the woman who’d threatened her son.
“It was very interesting meeting you, Mrs. O’Connor–”
“Ellen.”
“Ellen. But I won’t be able to make dinner tonight. I’m sure you